Serving Christians and Chaplaincies in the Military Worldwide

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1 AMCF makes much of the scripture All one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28) which was selected by the founding fathers as the AMCF motto. I have read this many times to see the context and understand its application to our ministry amongst the world s armed forces. Every time I come away immensely grateful that these Godly men should have been inspired to use this scripture. It speaks so clearly of our need as military men and women to be united in Christ across national and conflict boundaries. But it also speaks into our need, in these days when Christianity is challenged in so many countries, to drop our barriers of denomination and tradition and unite as the Church, the Bride of Christ, enjoying cooperating in Christ without compromising our faith. At Global Interaction we will see both these aspects of Christian unity and for those of us there it will be a wonderful journey sharing fellowship in Christ with one another from the armed forces of nations; some with whom we have not always seen eye to eye. Walk with us in daily prayer please. Grozdan Stoevski, our MMI Regional Team Leader for Europe gives a very recent example of this kind of fellowship: Last night there were two Albanian officers [on their way home from Newsletter Autumn 2014 Serving Christians and Chaplaincies in the Military Worldwide Will you walk with us through Global Interaction 2014? GI2014 Bible teacher, Bishop Henry Orombi the MMI Summer Adventure Retreat, See Page 2] at our home for dinner, hosted by my Serbian wife. Soon the discussion moved from small talk to the Kosovo conflict. Although our guests had a completely different perspective from my wife on what had happened, there was a strong spirit of unity and a prevailing presence of the love of Christ. At the same time, he continues, somewhere near Warsaw, there were Germans meeting with Poles and Belarussians dealing with past wounds with the same spirit of unity in a prevailing atmosphere of the love of Christ. See page 2 for Jos McCabe s report on this Polish MCF meeting last month. The bookings for GI 2014 are still coming in and we can see participants whose countries are in conflict even now. This will offer the enemy the opportunity to make mischief but with your prayerful support he will be kept at bay. After all he is only prowling around and He that is in us greater than he that is in the world. These are promises that we can stand on with assurance, blessed assurance. We look forward to telling you where your prayers gave taken us on this GI 2014 journey. God bless you. Association of Military Christian Fellowships President s Quinquennial Meeting 2014 Every 5 years the AMCF President calls a meeting of his Presidential Bench - the AMCF vice presidents for: East Africa - Brig Gen David Wakaalo (Uganda). Francophone Africa - Col Daniel Njoya (Cameroon) Southern Africa - Brig Gen Victor Mohapi (Lesotho) West Africa - Air Cdre Ishaku Komo (Nigeria) North America - Lt Col Nestor Ogilvie (Grenada) Central America - Col Joaquín Maldonado (Guatemala) South America - Col Omar Larrazabal (Peru) South Asia - Cdr Mathew (Pakistan) South East Asia - Cdre Ernest Sacro (Philippines) East Asia - Lt Gen Lee, Kap Jin (South Korea) North & East Europe - Col Torbjörn Bostrom (Sweden) South & Central Europe - Cdr Brian Parker (UK) Middle East - Vacant (covered by Col Richard Sandy (MMI)) Pacific - Princ Chaplain Eric Burton (Australia) The three Principle Supporting Organisations for AMCF, GI2014 Pray & Plan in Salisbury, UK March 2014 ACCTS (USA), MSO (South Korea) and MMI (UK), are invited to join the meeting as the strategy for AMCF for the next 5 years is considered. Meetings are held after each world conference such as the Global Interaction 2014 and in the intervening 5 th year. The Cape Town Quinquennial will meet in Paarl, a suburb of Cape Town from 7-8 December 2014 and has been organised by MMI with the help of South African MCF Director, Capt Peter Louwrens. This Quinquennial will consider a study commissioned by the AMCF President and undertaken by MMI staff member, Revd (Cdre RN(Retd)) Mike Terry into the current basic operating principles of AMCF and will make any necessary recommendations for the future development of AMCF. This has been a major undertaking and your prayers for the Quinquennial meeting as they consider Mike s report are essential as the discussions are conducted in the AMCF s pray and plan way. We look forward to an exciting Council. Building disciples - Shaping nations MMI Newsletter Autumn 2014

2 Europe Boats, Horses and Jeeps the new MMI tools for mission! By MMI Regional Team Leader (Europe), Rev Grozdan Stoevski MMI had a long-standing Mountain off road terrain. Registration for SAR 2015 tradition in the Sailing Retreat, A definite highlight of the week should start soon, since interest which this year was transformed and revived as the Summer Adventure Retreat (SAR) and took place on the Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria. There were 17 participants, representing 6 nations Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Moldova, Albania and Bulgaria. The SAR brought together young military people (officers, cadets and MCF members) were the country presentations, done in the most creative ways of the respective delegations and including folk dancing, gourmet national food sampling etc. Here is what Mihai and Lena, MCF members from Moldova shared: Thank you so much for enabling us to participate in the SAR, August...as a result we received new spiritual has already been ex- pressed as a result of the positive reports of the participants! To God be all the glory and credit! Sailing from different European countries for fellowship, spiritual enples for ministry, renewed our strength, learned new princi- Riding couragement and Biblical instruction. The programme included indoor teaching sessions on Transformations and was delivered by Lt Col (ret) Rainer Thorun and myself, Grozdan Stoevski. This provided the theory, while the adventure activities in the rest of the day the practice! During the 5-day long retreat, participants got to sail in yachts and a dingy, ride horses along the coast and drive old Russian jeeps in the Strandza energy and got to know very special people who love God...we liked very much the training by Rainer and Grozdan which refreshed our spiritual growth to be and act more like Jesus The SAR created an environment for spiritual growth, leadership development and team-building among the participants. New cross-cultural friendships were started. The sense of unity in Christ in the spirit of Gal 3:28 was present throughout the event. Christian Reconciliation in action National presentations By Colonel Jos McCabe, MMI Chief Executive and Team Leader from a report by LTC(R) Dick Barnes ACCTS (USA) The 13th meeting of the gates from 5 countries participated in this conference (Ger- Left: Uniformed participants German Brandenburger Reservisten with delegates many, Belarus, and Poland), Below: The KOV Conference from the Belarussian Military with Jos McCabe representing Christian Fellowship, Faith MMI and Dick Barnes representing ACCTS (USA). and Honour took place together with members of the During the 3 days, wreaths Polish military Christian fellowship Korneliusz in Warsaw Germans, Russians and Polish were laid at war memorials for Poland from August. people who died in WW2 and Countries with a long history of Prince Georg Waldeck of Germany, gave a powerful presen- past hurts and enmity came together to seek further reconciliation and friendship. This was name of his father s generatation on reconciliation. In the the first time this annual exchange has taken place in for the atrocities committed by tion. Prince Georg apologized Poland, and the annual conference of the Polish MCF was in- and addressed each repre- the Nazis during World War II, cluded in the program with the sented country specifically in theme: Reconciliation from a this very moving act. Biblical aspect. Thirty dele- 2 MMI Newsletter Autumn 2014

3 Europe Eastern Europe going to share in South Africa By MMI Regional Team Leader (Europe), Rev Grozdan Stoevski MMI has been active in Europe for decades. In the past 25 years the Lord has opened tremendous doors for Christian work among military people in countries from the former Eastern block and we have witnessed a rapid growth of national MCFs. The most recent developments on the geo-political front in Eastern Ukraine have had a sobering effect on the MCFs in the region, even more emphasizing the Gal 3:28 AMCF motto. Thus the upcoming AMCF GI 2014 is charged with expectations in many ways but most important to serve as a healing and reconciling opportunity between countries in conflict, such as Ukraine and Russia. Vasili Khimich has been an Air Force engineer officer before launching the Association of the Military Christians in Ukraine. He and his wife Valia work tirelessly to organize the multiple regional coordinators, publish the Christian Military Newspaper and most recently deliver camouflage Bibles to the soldiers on the front lines. This was the question, asked at the 2014 RIMP (Rassemblement International Militaire Protestant), which took place for the 63rd time at the traditional site of Méjannes-Le-Clap, Cévennes. There were about participants from different European countries, as well as a good African representation. At the opening ceremony I was asked to carry the Bulgarian national flag as the only Bulgarian national present at the event. This year s event had a much stronger evangelical spirit and openness to spiritual discussion on behalf of the participants. I had the opportunity to share about MMI with several On the Russian side, we hope to have Col (ret) Viacheslav Shelest, who is a board member of the Faith and Valor Russian Military Christian Union and is well connected within the Orthodox circles too. It was 15 years ago that the Yugoslav wars were put to an end. Drazen Hrzenjak from Croatia is a war veteran with combat experience, who now leads the Croat MCF Together in war, together in Christ. He will be sharing conference space with Serbian Air Force Major Dalibor Milicic, who is Orthodox by tradition and a sincere follower of Christ by commitment. Most of these participants will have a different colour of passport, a different earthly citizenship, because there are from different states and human kingdoms. One day, however, all of this will disappear and there will be one kingdom God s kingdom! AMCF GI 2014 will be a tiny glimpse of one aspect of that Kingdom and we are privileged and blessed to be part of it! God close or far away? By MMI Regional Team Leader (Europe), Rev Grozdan Stoevski Chaplains, a French General, African Colonel and many others. The Dutch delegation attended for the first time and was led by their Chief Protestant Chaplain, Klaas Henk. Master Sgt Willem Hoogenraat invited Grozdan on a hike and prayer walk where the two encouraged Sgt Reina Koetsier to consider attending the SAR, later in the summer which she did! Chaplain Serge Martorana did the devotions during the prayer hike. MMI was represented at the information booth, organized by Lt Col Eric Mandille, President of the French MCF and the brochures and leaflets were taken away by the eager Dalibor Milicic with MMI CE/TL Jos McCabe participants in no time. RIMP is definitely a very strategic event for the military Christian community in Europe and we are privileged to take part. Drazen Hrzenjak with Grozdan and AMCF VP Brian Parker Viacheslav Shelest The Khimiches (left) with the Stoevskis Pictures: Above: Grozdan with African participants. Left: The bustle of the opening ceremony MMI Newsletter Autumn

4 Africa Advancing with Africa towards AMCF GI2014 By Colonel Jos McCabe, MMI Regional Team Leader (Africa) As AMCF GI 2014 draws closer and excitement builds, MMI have so far awarded 44 scholarships of varying amounts to participants from 21 countries across Africa. We thank God for this and for touching your hearts to enable it to happen. In a demonstration that we are truly All one in Christ Jesus scholarships have also been awarded by AMCF partners ACCTS (USA), MSO, the South African Joshua Trust and Alpha for Forces. Most encouraging of all, we are seeing many Africans making a contribution themselves to attend, with some paying all of their own costs. Some of those coming will be from difficult and dangerous countries where Christians are caught up in ongoing conflict of a tribal or religious nature or face levels of institutional corruption on a scale difficult to comprehend. It will mean so much to them to be able to come together freely and without fear, to meet with other Christians and to know they have brothers and sisters who care. Others need building up in their faith and some good discipling in being the salt and light where God has called them to be. We need your prayers that AMCF GI 2014 will act as a real encouragement to such brothers and sisters. In particular we need your payers for visas to be granted to those we hope to see coming from the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Nigeria, DRC, Comoros, Liberia, Chad and Guinea Bissau. We hope to see the bonds of fellowship between nations grow as they experience some of the reality of being All one in Christ Jesus regardless of colour, denomination or race. We want the interaction between African nations and others to lead to real spiritual growth. We long for AMCF GI 2014 to be used by the Lord to empower and better equip participants to serve God s purposes in their countries armed force and to see MCFs grow strong. However, above all we want the event to glorify the Lord and serve His purposes. Indeed we thank God that we have already seen some of the seeds of this already being sown through the Warriors training sessions. Our earnest prayer is that by the time you read this we will have seen yet more scholarships awarded and more Africans able to register on a self-funding basis. Please continue to pray with us. Above and below: Participants at the East Africa Prayer Convention March 2014 MMI Supporters Weekend February 2015 St Paul s Church & Sarum College, Salisbury Former MMI RTL (Africa) Homfray Vines in South Sudan Above: RTL Africa Jos McCabe with Onesimus (Chad) Left: Jos, Onesimus and a Cameroon pastor What was the Lord saying to MMI in South Africa? Come and hear the news from Cape Town and meet those who were there. Please put the date in your diary and look out for the flier in our New Year mailing 4 MMI Newsletter Autumn 2014

5 By MMI Regional Team Leader (Middle East) Colonel (Retd) Richard Sandy The Arab Spring uprising common enemy. This offers an confrontation increasing numbers of Christians are leaving against President Assad in opportunity for moderate Muslim Syria, which degenerated into factional civil war with Sunni and Shia extremist groups from outside entering Syria, has further worsened and spilled over into Iraq through the barbaric activities of the organisation variously known as IS, ISIS or ISIL. ISIL claims to have formed a Caliphate in the territories it currently controls in Syria and Iraq and imposed an extreme version of Sharia law. However, their extreme interpretation of Islam, not generally recognised by most Muslim leaders, is not welcomed by the majority of moderate Muslims in the region, both Sunni and Shia, who now have a leaders in several countries in the region to put aside their religious differences in order to confront ISIL. An encouraging sign has been the formation of a new government in Iraq, which includes representation from the major factions within the country. We pray this encouraging first step will be supported by the general population and also more widely by Iraq s neighbours and those who have influence in the region. There are encouraging signs that this is beginning to happen. Amongst all this turmoil and their own countries to seek a War damaged church in Syria more peaceful life elsewhere. Yet there remain small pockets of committed Christians in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, many of whom feel the Lord still has a role for them remaining. We pray for the Lord s protection for them. Middle East Can there be peace in the Middle East? It is important therefore for our ministry to secure delegates from the region to attend GI 2014 in South Africa. At present we have delegates from Egypt (2), Jordan (1) and Tunisia (1) who have already registered to attend. In addition we have ongoing discussions with potential delegates from Israel (2), the Palestinian Authority (1) and Sudan (Khartoum) (1). In every case there are difficulties to overcome in terms of permission to leave their country, visas and travel to South Africa. Please pray the Lord will overcome all the difficulties to enable those He wishes to attend to get there. Chris loves the Gospel and sharing it! As a pilot, on long flights he would sit and work out how to share the Good News with his co-pilot. One line was, Can you see the pleiades? Did you know that the pleiades is mentioned in the Bible? (Job 9:9 and 38:31). He loved street preaching, he loved meeting and sharing with people. No wonder he loved being MMI s Regional Team Leader for South Asia. Sadly that is now in the past but even in the advanced state of his brain cancer he recently responded to his wife, June s query, What are you thinking? as he stared into space. I am luxuriating in my Gospel, he replied. I can imagine Chris (and the Lord for that matter!) challenging us all, Are you luxuriating in the Gospel?. It s always a joy to see someone taking great pleasure from a present you have given them. I respond to Chris statement, with the thought that God will so enjoy watching his son enjoying His gift the way He wanted him to. South Asia South Asia at GI 2014 Making the difference that matters by MMI Regional Team Leader (South Asia), Lt Col (Retd) Paddy Hughes Nepal s military Christian fellowship was born as a direct have followed and these three two other South Asian countries result of the last AMCF World as well as Sri Lanka, India and Conference and subsequent follow Pakistan will participate in up by MMI Regional Team Global Interaction Leader, Chris West. MCFs in At GI 2014, and after, our focus Chris West Update will be on encouragement and learning how we in MMI can help the existing fellowships to grow spiritually and also reach out to those who do and those who do not know Jesus Christ AMCF VP Cdr Mathew with Benaiah fellowship members Chris sharing scripture in a Nepal MCF meeting in 2009 as Lord. You can easily imagine how the increase of the knowledge of Jesus Christ amongst the armed forces of all these nations would make the difference that matters in South Asia. Chris briefs the Bishop of Calcutta in 2012 MMI Newsletter Autumn

6 MMI 2014 Programme October Romania MCF meeting 30 MMI Trustees autumn meeting November 30-6/12 AMCF GI 2014 December 30/11-6 AMCF GI AMCF President s Quinquennial meeting January MMI Staff Retreat February 2-7 Skiing Retreat (Austria) Supporters Weekend (Salisbury, UK) March 19 MMI Trustees spring meeting Patron General the Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL Trustees David Thomson (Chairman) Maj (Retd) David Baldwin Mrs Yvonne Cobbold Rev, Col (Retd) Richard Cobbold Lt Col Innocent Shams Maj Gen Arnvid Løvbukten (Norway) Rev Philip Majcher Maj Gen Roddy Porter Mrs Janet Seierstad (Norway) Associates Col Charles Amaning (Ghana) Jeremy Clare Gen Tim Cross Rev Simon Farmer Mrs Anthea Fillingham Gen Joshua Hamidu (Ghana) Col Peter Harvey Col Ivar Hellberg LTC(R) Dell McDonald (USA) Gen Lee, Pil Sup (South Korea) Gen Sir Laurence New Cdr Michael and Mrs Sue Piper Mrs Gina Rajah (Brazil) Lt Col Jan Ransom Capt Inge Wold (Norway) Mrs Sue Skippage Maj John Seii (Kenya) Ian Willis We congratulate former AMCF Vice President for Africa, and MMI Associate, Colonel Charles Amaning and his Swiss bride, Daniela. Charles and Daniela were married earlier this year and we look forward to seeing them both in Cape Town. Being a good Swiss lady Daniela is multilingual speaking French, English, German and Italian. Follow the MMI PrayerBlog on Changes in MMI s Chair of Trustees MMI Trustee, Major General (Retd) Roddy Porter takes over from David Thomson as Chairman of Trustees on 30 October General Roddy has become a familiar figure leading the worship at our Supporters Weekend. He retired from the Army in 2011, after 32 years service and is currently Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League. We bid farewell to David after 11 years as an MMI trustee; the last 6 spent chairing the organisation. David has steered MMI s governance through a Text a donation Did you know you can donate to MMI by text? Simply text MMIX07 2, 5 or 10 (maximum) to or Give on line Use this QR code to go to the MMI page and give through Stewardship s give.net. Download a QR code reader from App Store or Play Store. busy time of growth and development and will be greatly missed. Major General Roddy Porter MMI is recruiting a new Secretary - is it you? It is fairly common knowledge that MMI Secretary, Mike Paterson will retire next year, The search is on for a successor and concurrently consideration is being given to how the MMI office function might be delivered in future. Above all, though, we seek the person that has been chosen by God to do this work. If you believe you have a calling to this ministry, and the financial and administrative skills required, we would be pleased to hear from you. Experience tells us that such jobs are often built round the right person rather than identifying a precise skill match to a derived job description. The post will attract an appropriate salary. If you are interested please contact the MMI office. A new appointment now Meet our new Finance and Administration Secretary, Mrs Jo Hill. Jo, an experienced book-keeper, joined us on Tuesday 16 th September from the Association of Grace Baptist Churches where she was assistant to the Finance Officer. She was also treasurer of Highgate Road Chapel where her husband, now Executive Director of SASRA, was the Pastor. Jo likes cricket, supports Arsenal and is a trustee of PAMOJA. Why not look it up on-line to learn more. We welcome Jo to MMI. Newsletter is a private circulation by: Military Ministries International Havelock House, Barrack Road ALDERSHOT, Hampshire, GU11 3NP, United Kingdom. Telephone: ++44(0) ; headoffice@m-m-i.org.uk Reg. Charity MMI Newsletter Autumn 2014